Digital Integration Centre of Excellence (DICE) TAC Advisory Board

Joanne Baczuk

Director of ecosystem development, AgWest Bio

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Joanne Baczuk

Joanne is a highly skilled professional with extensive experience in economic development and financial risk management. She joined the AgWest Bio team in October of 2021 as Director of Ecosystem Development. This position provides the opportunity for Joanne and AgWest Bio to work with an extensive group of community leaders interested in expanding the agri-food sector in Saskatchewan.

Joanne holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of Saskatchewan and has been a member of the Association of Financial Professionals since 2005, when she received her Certified Treasury Professional (CTP) designation. Over the past several years, she has gained extensive experience in economic development and financial risk management and is currently expanding her area of interest to include sector specific knowledge in ag-tech and agri-food.

Following graduation in 1995, Joanne spent several years with international uranium mining companies, including Uranerz Exploration and Mining and Cameco Corporation. As a Cameco employee, she became an integral part of the treasury team, providing oversight for day-to-day treasury functions, as well as being a financial advisor on cross functional acquisitions teams. In February of 2015, Joanne joined the Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority (SREDA) as Director, Economic Forecasting and Analysis. During her time at SREDA, Joanne’s role was expanded to include directorship for the Business Attraction (BA), Business Expansion, Regional Economic Development and Entrepreneurship pillars.

Tina Beaudry-Mellor

Chief economic growth officer, Economic Development Regina

Biography

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Tina Beaudry-Mellor

Tina Beaudry-Mellor is a thought leader, strategist and champion. She is the Chief Economic Growth Officer for Economic Development Regina. She is also the former Minister of Advanced Education, the Minister of Innovation Saskatchewan and the Minister Responsible for the Status of Women. She was first elected in 2016 and in her time in government was the author of many key initiatives including the Saskatchewan Technology StartUp Incentive, the most aggressive angel investment tax credit in Western Canada, which has played a key role in making Saskatoon the second fastest growing tech hub in Canada. She also authored the Ag-Tech Growth Fund to help boost Saskatchewan’s niche market for agricultural tech companies.

In Advanced Education, she was the Vice Chair of the Council of Ministers of Education Canada (CMEC) which included the ministers of advanced education and K-12 for all of the federal/provincial and territories. As part of this, Saskatchewan lead the international education strategy. She also represented Canada at both the G20’s first ever employment and education talks in Argentina in 2018 and at UNESCO’s 40th General Conference on the future of work in Paris in 2019. Also in 2019 she worked with Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan to launch Canada’s first Women’s Economic Advisory Committee focused on recommendations to help women led businesses in Saskatchewan scale and add to the Province’s ambitious 100,000 jobs growth plan goals.

Tina also serves as a special advisor to a global digital identity and educational credential company, Trybe.id. On the community side, Tina is a proud champion of the YWCA Regina and its efforts to support women and children fleeing interpersonal abuse as well as a member of the Emerald League of the Saskatchewan Roughriders Foundation which helps provide opportunities for kids in the North to play football.